Attenuator element for a buildout system

Abstract

An attenuator element for use between two optical fiber connector ferrules comprising an optical member having an outer periphery, a neck portion connected to the outer periphery of the optical member, a head portion connected to the neck portion, and a severable grip having a substantially planar body portion and a wedge portion attached to the body portion. The attenuator element can be manually manipulated by grasping the grip and placing the optical member in an appropriate apparatus at which point the grip can be manually broken off of the attenuator element. Typically, the grip is used to place the optical member of the attenuator element in a ferrule sleeve of a buildout system.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An attenuator element for use between two optical connector ferrules, said attenuator element comprising: 
       an optical member having an outer periphery;  
       a neck portion connected to the outer periphery of said optical member;  
       a head portion connected to said neck portion; and  
       a severable grip having a substantially planar body portion and a wedge portion attached to said body portion, said grip being connected to said head portion at a breaking point;  
       wherein said attenuator element can be manually manipulated by grasping said grip, and placing said optical member in an appropriate apparatus at which point said grip can be manually broken off of said attenuator element.  
     
     
       2. The attenuator element of claim  1 , wherein said head portion has a pair of substantially parallel opposed sides. 
     
     
       3. The attenuator element of claim  1 , wherein the length dimension of said neck portion is smaller that the height dimension of said optical member to prevent the likelihood of breakage of said attenuator element when subjected to use. 
     
     
       4. The attenuator element of claim  1 , wherein said attenuator is composed of an acrylic material. 
     
     
       5. The attenuator element of claim  4 , wherein said attenuator element has a one-piece, unitary construction. 
     
     
       6. An attenuator element for use between two optical fiber connector ferrules, said attenuator element comprising: 
       an optical member having an outer periphery;  
       a neck portion connected to the outer periphery of said optical member, the length dimension of said neck portion being smaller than the height dimension of said optical member;  
       a head portion connected to said neck portion; and  
       a removable grip connected to said head portion at a breaking point, said grip being breakable off from said attenuator.  
     
     
       7. The attenuator element of claim  6 , wherein said head portion has a pair of substantially parallel opposed sides. 
     
     
       8. The attenuator element of claim  6 , wherein said attenuator is composed of an acrylic material. 
     
     
       9. The attenuator element of claim  8 , wherein said attenuator element has a one-piece, unitary construction. 
     
     
       10. A method of positioning an attenuator element in optical coupling apparatus, the element having an optical member, a neck portion, and a head portion, said method comprising the steps of: 
       grasping the attenuator element by a grip formed on the attenuator element;  
       positioning the optical member within the apparatus; and  
       breaking the grip off of the attenuator element by bending the grip laterally toward a side of the attenuator element until the grip breaks at a breaking point.